Police are warning businesses to be on the look out for counterfeit money after uncovering a stash of fake $50 bills in an Okotoks home.
The discovery stems from an arrest after Okotoks RCMP stopped a driver of a reported stolen vehicle Aug. 17.
The driver was arrested and found to have counterfeit Canadian bills in his wallet.
A search warrant was executed at an Okotoks home where RCMP, including members of the Okotoks general investigative section, found fake $50 bills along with a printer with linen paper and red ink for printing $50 bills.
There were 19 counterfeit $50 bills in total, and one-half of a bill. The bills were all of older, paper variety in circulation before the current polymer bills currently in use were introduced. Several had the same serial number. Those serial numbers on the fake bills included FMY1402620, AHW7627903, FMW2141151, AHW7627903 and FMY1402620.
RCMP urge businesses to watch for counterfeit money and educate themselves and their staff about how to identify fake bills.
Okotoks RMCP Sgt. Sukh Randhawa said there has been an increase in fake small bills of smaller denominations, such as $5 or $10.
“We’re seeing an influx of smaller bills,” he said.
Randhawa said they’re easily passed off at stores at the register.
“Be careful when you’re accepting smaller denomination bills,” he said.
Randhawa said the new polymer bills are more difficult to copy and police have seen a drop in the number of fake bills since they were introduced, but it’s not stopping determined counterfeiters.
“With technology people are getting more aware of how to make them,” he said.
According to an RCMP statement, some tactics used by counterfeiters include removing a polymer strip from older legitimate bills to apply to fake versions. In some cases clear polymer strips from legitimate low denomination bills are spliced to colour copies of higher value bills. In these cases, the bills feel like paper and the polymer inset is poorly attached to the fake bill. Photocopies of bills are sometimes slightly smaller than the real version.
As well, Randhawa said to watch out for bills that have the same serial number.
“Every bill has a different serial number, that would be a red flag,” he said.
For more information on security features on Canadian currency, visit www.bankofcanada.ca
Jacob Sager, of Okotoks, has been charged with possession of stolen property, possession of counterfeit money, as well as driving a motor vehicle without a valid drivers licence, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and unlawfully operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
Sager will appear in Okotoks Provincial Court on Sept. 30.
